China changes leadership

Updated
March 05, 2013 23:29:00

China's outgoing premier, Wen Jiabo, urged China's next generation of leaders to tackle the twin challenges of corruption and pollution.China's once-in-a-decade leadership change will take place over the next ten days of the congress.

EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: China's outgoing premier, Wen Jiabao, has opened the National People's Congress with a defence of his government's economic record.

He says strong economic growth will continue this year, but warned of the need for more balanced development.

Mr Wen urged China's next generation of leaders to tackle the twin challenges of corruption and pollution.

China's once-in-a-decade leadership change will take place over the next 10 days of the Congress.

China correspondent Stephen McDonell reports from the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

STEPHEN MCDONELL, REPORTER: It was the dawning of a new era, a time for this Asian giant to install a fresh team of leaders. But as nearly 3,000 delegates descended on the Great Hall of the People, they knew that this would be a change without instability.

The National People's Congress will meet over the next 10 days to ratify the appointment of various leaders into senior government positions.

But before this can take place, there was time today for the old guard to have their last word. Outgoing premier Wen Jiabao delivered the opening address, known as the Government Work Report, and said his administration had delivered a strong economy which escaped the world's financial crisis.

WEN JIABAO, OUTGOING CHINESE PREMIER (voiceover translation): Over the past five years we averted the grievous consequences of the global financial crisis. We responded to it calmly with timely and decisive adjustments.

STEPHEN MCDONELL: Premier Wen predicted that China would achieve a 7.5 per cent growth rate this year. Some think this could even be a conservative figure. But he warned that the incoming administration faces major challenges, especially with pollution.

WEN JIABAO (voiceover translation): In response to people's expectations of having a good living environment, we should greatly strengthen ecological improvement and environmental protection.

STEPHEN MCDONELL: He told delegates that China had to restrict energy consumption, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and that people simply must change the way they work and live.

This gathering has had little choice but to acknowledge China's massive environmental problems, especially given the record levels of air pollution seen in the first months of this year. But the Congress is unlikely to approve any specific measures designed to address the issue. Instead it's a meeting which will install a new team in government and it will be up to them to tackle pollution or any other issues.

Armed spending figures were also released today with China's military budget officially expanding by 10.7 per cent. And yet there were other items on Wen Jiabao's checklist reaching closer to the lives of Chinese citizens.

WEN JIABAO (voiceover translation): Food and drug safety is a prominent issue of widespread concern. We should improve mechanisms for overseeing and supervising food and drug safety.

STEPHEN MCDONELL: There's been talk of a new ministry to tackle these very matters. Peaceful development and combating corruption also got a mention. Then the man they call Uncle Wen took a bow, received applause from his party and handed over to a new generation.